The former striker of Kyiv Dynamo and the Ukrainian national team Serhiy Serebrenikov, who played for over 10 years in the Belgian league, shared his expectations for the matches of the Ukrainian national team against the Belgian national team (March 20 and March 23) in the UEFA Nations League playoffs for the right to compete in Division A of this tournament next season.
Serhiy Serebrenikov«Under Tedesco, there was a lot of negativity in Belgium»
— Serhiy, do you have a favorite in the Belgium vs Ukraine match?
— Despite all the downsides of the Belgians, such as their team restructuring and generational change, they are still favorites on paper. They have a serious reserve of strength.
— The Belgians have a new head coach who has yet to conduct matches with this team. Could this be a plus for the Ukrainians?
— I think this could be a plus for Belgium itself. There was a lot of negativity under the previous head coach. The expectations for Domenico Tedesco's team at the European Championship were not met. Therefore, it's not worth hoping that a new coach has come and needs time. It seems to me that with the arrival of a new coach, the Belgian national team will revive.
— How was Rudi Garcia's appointment perceived in Belgium?
— It's difficult to give a definitive answer, as the fans here are very critical of their national team; they always expect quality play and high results from Belgium. The fact that a new specialist is at the helm has overshadowed all the negativity for now. Everyone hopes it will be better than it was at Euro 2024, for example.
«Rudi Garcia has a blank slate»
— Are you surprised that this specialist has not achieved anything significant as a coach, and now he has such a challenge?
— Yes, he has not achieved much, but he has coached good teams (Lille, Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Napoli). Although he may be a "dark horse" for many, Garcia has considerable experience.
We must start with the fact that Belgium is a unique country for a national team. It is divided into two parts—Wallonia and Flanders. These are two linguistically distinct sides. If a person can unite them, choosing the best from both sides, then this national team can achieve very high results. Even the star generation that was once with the Belgians could not achieve their potential.
Rudi Garcia has a blank slate since even with the current selection of players, it would take effort to perform worse than in the last year. And this applies not so much to results as to the quality of play, which has disappointed everyone in Belgium.
— In your opinion, can Garcia elevate Belgium to a higher level of play?
— I believe it is easier for him in this regard than for his predecessor. Again, currently Belgium, if not the worst, is somewhere near the bottom by local standards, and there is essentially nowhere to fall further. Therefore, we should expect that the national team will become stronger soon.
— It is always said that a new coach needs time for the team to adopt his principles of play. Could this particular reconstruction take place during the matches against Ukraine?
— Naturally, a national team cannot be formed in one match, week, or month. But the Belgians need an instant result right now. Our team needs to rely on a shock effect from the opponent. Their coach is not dependent on any external factors. I am confident that in matches against the Ukrainians, the Belgians will be super motivated. And if we compare Belgium in the match against Ukraine in the European Championship and now, on March 20, in my opinion, the opponent will be much stronger and more aggressive.
— The matches of Ukraine vs Belgium are not for the title and not even for qualifying for the final part of the major forum. Will a loss in this confrontation be a failure for the Belgians?
— Of course. Reputation is paramount; they do not forget about it. For the Belgians, matches against Ukraine will become a reference point for the new coach. I will say more: the result may not be as critical as the quality and style of play. For the team and especially for Rudi Garcia, these will be very important matches.
— The coach has brought back veterans to the national team: Courtois, De Bruyne, and Lukaku. Will this noticeably strengthen their potential?
— Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku were already in the national team. There may have been talks about their retirement from national team duties, but nothing more. However, there was a conflict between Thibaut Courtois and Domenico Tedesco, but this issue has been resolved today. He is a very important player for the national team, both morally and in terms of play. He is a player of Real Madrid, possessing significant experience and authority in the team.
Lukaku is currently in good form, and all of these tribulations with other teams are irrelevant here. However, De Bruyne's playing condition is not what everyone knows it to be, although class, as they say, is never wasted. So their call-up to the national team will undoubtedly strengthen Belgium's potential.
«No one will make a revolution after Tedesco»
— I read that some players of the Belgian national team were outraged by the decision to return Courtois to the team. In particular, goalkeeper Castel has even announced his retirement from the national team due to this personnel decision. Could this provoke conflict within the squad?
— As far as I know, nothing went beyond his words, so I wouldn’t emphasize this point. No one is going to make any revolutions there now; everyone is focused on the results in the upcoming matches against Ukraine.
— If not this trio we talked about, then on whose shoulders does the Belgian national team rely?
— Besides them, it's hard to name other leaders. (Smiles). In general, the Belgians have very good young players. If the coach is not afraid and gives a chance to players like De Ketelaere, Openda, or some others, it will be very tough.
Belgium has always had players with names, but it is extremely rare to unite them into a whole. Like in Croatia, where the national team has always been known for its unity. If Rudi Garcia manages to do something similar, it will be a very strong European team.
«Honor and praise to the Ukrainian national team»
— Once again, we have to state that the Ukrainian national team will not play its home match on its own soil. Many say it's time to get used to it and not make a big deal about it. But it’s one thing when 5,000–10,000 fans support you and quite another when, for example, 70,000. How much does this affect the team's results?
— Undoubtedly, this is a significant minus for Ukraine, no matter how often they play away from home. Here, one can only imagine what it’s like to play at home, in a familiar stadium, with the support of a huge number of spectators, without needing to fly anywhere, then transferring to another place. It’s not even worth discussing. Such a team will always be at a disadvantage.
But honor and praise go to the Ukrainians, who, despite everything, achieve worthy results, and this indicates that our national team is also strong and has character.
— What advantages might the Ukrainian national team have in this confrontation?
— First of all, teamwork and game discipline. We all refer to the European Championship, but if such play takes place against the Belgians, then a positive result is hardly to be expected. Ukraine can play much better.
«The more Ukrainians abroad, the stronger the national team»
— By the way, it is symbolic that Ukrainian football is now headed by two former football stars: Andriy Shevchenko – president of the UAF, and Serhiy Rebrov – head coach of the national team. Can this boost the behind-the-scenes ranking of our team in Europe?
— I think so. When there is Serhiy Rebrov behind you, who has achieved high results in coaching, and when there is Andriy Shevchenko, who is known all over the world, this is undoubtedly a plus for the country’s image. But this is not a determining factor, as the team’s results are still ultimately defined on the football field.
— Many Ukrainian footballers play abroad. Does this significantly strengthen the team's potential?
— 100 percent. The more Ukrainians play abroad, the more choice of quality players the coaches will have, and naturally, this results in a higher level for the national team.
«Malynovskyi would help the national team right now»
— Last mid-week, the first goal of the season for Arsenal was scored by Oleksandr Zinchenko. Is the leader of the national team returning?
— I would like to say so, but it's hard to judge by one game. However, it’s important that one of the key players is coming to the national team in good spirits.
— I can't help but ask about Ruslan Malynovskyi, who provided two assists in his first game after a serious injury. Could he help the national team right now?
— I think so. But the team list was formed much earlier. Malynovskyi is coming back after his injury, so it’s possible he was not among the candidates this time. I am undoubtedly biased towards Ruslan because he is close to me, but I have no doubt that this midfielder would be helpful for the national team. If not this time, then definitely next time.
«Zabarnyi is on the books of all top clubs»
— The most expensive Ukrainian footballer, according to Transfermarkt, is now Illia Zabarnyi. What are his prospects in the Premier League?
— For now, everything looks very promising. Illia is a leading player for the national team, and he proves this in every game for his club. He is young by football standards, but he looks solid at the highest level. I don’t want to jinx it, but this player can achieve very high heights in football.
— Are many clubs in England currently pursuing him?
— The Premier League has a very strong scouting system, and Zabarnyi is on the books of all top clubs. European giants from other leagues are also keeping an eye on him.
«Rebrov will have to rack his brains»
— How is Mykhailo Mudryk doing, who tested positive for a doping test at the end of last year? When will there be clarity in his case?
— To be honest, I'm a bit out of touch with this situation, so I draw all my information from the press.
— Mudryk is one of the leaders of the Ukrainian attack. Will the coaches be able to find an equal replacement for him?
— Strong individuals make a difference in football. This is a significant loss for our national team. If we talk about Ukrainian footballers, we have many excellent defensive defenders and defensive midfielders, but when we focus on creativity, there are not many high-class performers like that in Ukraine. Mudryk is one of those players. This is definitely a loss for our team. I think Serhiy Rebrov will rack his brains searching for an equal replacement. But, as I said, in the game against the Belgians, the determining factor will still be collective play.
— The strength of a player and their price depend on their actions on the football field. In a Europa League match, Roman Yaremchuk scored a double for Olympiacos. Will this help him get more playing time in the starting eleven?
— For a striker, their performance is always the most crucial factor. If that's the case, then any coach will want to use such a player more. And while the Greek league is not among the top ones in Europe, Olympiacos is a very strong team with a good selection of players. Therefore, it will not be easy to just get into the starting lineup. I am sure the coach will adequately evaluate Roman's performance.
«Tsigankov is a key figure for Girona»
— In Girona, Viktor Tsygankov is, arguably, one of the leaders of the team. Is there a high demand for him from other clubs?
— I can't speak for the demand because I'm not involved in his affairs, but the fact that Vitya is one of the defining players for his team in attack is a fact. This season, he has had some injuries, but when he is fit, he is indeed a key figure for Girona.
— You must feel like a fish in water in Belgian football. Why has the demand for Ukrainian footballers in this country significantly decreased?
— There is always interest. However, recently the situation has changed a bit in that prices for footballers have risen significantly. Belgian football is focused on quality players that can be bought at a reasonable price, developed over a year or two, and then sold for a significantly higher price. But now, the sums being asked for in Ukraine are high for Belgian football. Such price tags, as I know, are already for the top 5 European leagues. So for now, that’s how it is.
— We have already talked about the fans. So, nominally, Ukraine's home match against Belgium will take place in Murcia, but there are not as many Ukrainians there as, say, in Poland, the Czech Republic or Germany. Will this be a minus for Serhiy Rebrov's team?
— Yes. Fans influence the game when the stadium is full, and they support their team passionately. It’s no coincidence that fans are called the "12th player." Probably, the choice of the match venue is connected with logistical issues. Although it would have been harder for the Belgians to get to conditional Poland than to Spain. But there’s nothing you can do, we live in such realities now. Again, the choice of a home venue was probably made with some important issues in mind. But in any case, it is not a plus for the Ukrainians.
— In your opinion, during the game with an equal score, who will dominate on the football field?
— It is essential to understand what it means to dominate. Just controlling the ball or exceeding the opponent in shots and goal-scoring chances? I think that in terms of sharpness, the advantage will be on Belgium's side, given their potential and the arrival of the new coach. And for the Ukrainian national team, it is important to take the game discipline seriously, as I said, and to realize goal-scoring opportunities.
— What is your prediction for the first playoff match?
— I don’t know how to and don't like to do that. I can only wish the Ukrainian national team a positive result. We will keep our fingers crossed for Serhiy Rebrov's team.
Serhiy Dem'yanchuk
